Nattsanger (Nightsongs)
Honorable Mention, ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, 2009
McKnight Artist Fellowship, 2009 (primary work sample)

      I. Aftenrøden (Red sunset)
      II. Når de sover (When they sleep)
      III. Mose, rust, og møll (Moss, rust, and moths)
      IV. Lavmaelt (Whispered)
      V. Lyktestolpen (Streetlamp)
      VI. Nattmusikk (Night Music)
      VII. Sjøfugl (Seabirds)

Nattsanger (Nightsongs) is a cycle of seven songs exploring the mysterious nature of the period of time from sunset to dawn. Each movement focuses on a small feature specific to the night, from examining the close of day (I), through REM sleep and motion in stillness (III), the non sequitur aspect of the dream state (IV), the relationship of a fixed point to the ever-skewing night sky (VI), and finally to the fluctuation between dream state and reality (VII). Initially conceived as a partner piece to Dominick Argento's song cycle To Be Sung Upon the Water, it borrows not only its instrumentation (sans bass clarinet), but also aspects of that piece's arched symmetrical form.

This piece has been my largest project to date, and it was brought into being with help from soprano Jennifer Swanson, acting executive director Sharon Carlson at The Schubert Club, and native Norwegian speaker Melissa (Holm-Johansen) Culloton, who took great time in coaching me on pronunciation, translation, and the rich connotations of these exquisite Norwegian words. To these lovely people, and to the estate of poet Rolf Jacobsen, my deepest gratitude.